The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert, Cheryl Ellis and Dave Skou present. Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, represented the press. Gary Lundquist, Dennis Bush, Nick Bowdish, Tom Kohn, Kenny Schlenger, Pat Bunt, Darrel Downs, Mike Scholten, Jay Reuter, Allan Reuter, Pat Bird, Daryl Haack, Doug Lansink, Tom Jenness, Vince Davis, Ben Erdman, Dale Arends, Myron Pingel, Ronald Wetherell, Bud Busch, John Nitz, Dan Hueser, Ed Sand, Steve Kunzweiler, Shane Bellefy, Martin Irwin, Rod Ogren, Dan Barkel, Larry Alesch, Kelly Puhrmann, and Sarah Tracy were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Ellis, Skou, Mummert, Petersen, Mongan; Nayes – none; Abstentions – none.
Chairman Mongan called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Petersen to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Ellis to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
There were no comments from the public.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to open a public hearing for vacating a portion of 480th Street. Roll call vote: Skou-aye, Petersen- aye, Mummert- aye, Mongan-aye, Ellis-aye. Motion carried.
Chairman Mongan asked for comments from the public. Shane Bellefy, taxpayer, questioned whether or not the road was a farm to market road. After receiving confirmation that 480th Street is a farm to market road, from Sarah Tracy, County Engineer. He asked why this issue has not been brought to the state level, since the farm to market board meets quarterly. He wants to see everyone work together for the taxpayers of Cherokee County. Dennis Bush, former supervisor and taxpayer, encouraged the supervisors before agreeing to vacate 480th Street, that Cherokee County be reimbursed for a portion of F Avenue or let out of the contract. Rod Ogren, farmer and taxpayer, acknowledged all that Little Sioux has done for agriculture in the county. Mike Scholten, Assistant Chief of the Marcus Fire Department, reviewed the standard operating guide for the department. During an emergency response, the Marcus Fire Department is required to meet a Little Sioux representative at the main gate off of F Avenue. If mutual aid is required during an event, staging is off of Highway 3 and F Avenue. Dan Barkel, Superintendent of the MMCRU Community School District, values Little Sioux as an employer, a generator of tax dollars for the school district, and is advocating for MMCRU and Little Sioux to continue to grow. Pat Bunt, Mayor of Marcus, supports the growth of Little Sioux and thanked them for their generosity in current and new businesses in Cherokee County over the last 20 years.
Chris White, Klass Law Firm, representing Cherokee County appeared via phone. The public hearing notice requirement has been complied with as required by Iowa statute. All the residents and entities that were sent the notices have all been received, but two. No vote may take place, due to not having all the notices signed. The notice is also required to be sent to the Iowa DOT District Planner for the potential Farm to Market implication for vacating a road, which Sarah Tracy, County Engineer is looking into. White recommended to receive the recommendations from the Farm to Market Board before proceeding with another public hearing. One objection was received from the Paul J. Keffeler Trust. White provided an update regarding a news report on alleged conflict of interest of supervisors which included that the County is waiting on an opinion from Zach Goodrich, the Executive Director of Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, regarding Helmke v. Board of Adjustment, City of Ruthven, 418 N.W.2d 346 Iowa 1988). White believes the Helmke case stands for the legal proposition, that if the individual supervisor owns less than 5 percent of the LSCP outstanding stock, is not an LSCP employee, is not a member of the LSCP board of directors, and is not otherwise involved in LSCP’s management, there is no conflict.
Hearing no other comments from the public a motion was made by Skou, seconded by Mummert to close the public hearing. Roll call vote: Ellis-aye, Skou-aye, Mummert-aye, Petersen-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, presented utility permits for consideration.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for the University of Iowa in Section 23 of Cherokee Township. Motion carried.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, provided updates on construction projects. Bridge release projects are all on schedule. A February letting is scheduled for the Pitcher 47 Project and all of the right of way has been secured. The River Road Project is scheduled for a January letting.
Dana Evans provided an update that included 15 bridges on paved state highways to memorialize veterans from Cherokee County who were killed during military conflicts. Evans proposed naming and placing signs on the bridges at a cost of $550. This includes the signage, posts, hardware, and would be the county’s responsibility to maintain. General requirements and procedures are administered by the Iowa DOT. After several questions from the supervisors, the topic was tabled due to needing more research and consideration.
Kaitlin Letsche, Election Manager, reviewed the November 7, 2023 City-School Election Second Tier results for the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District including total votes from Cherokee and Plymouth Counties.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Petersen to certify the Second Tier Canvass of 2023 City-School Election results as presented. Motion carried with details as follows:
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn School – Director At Large (vote for three)
Laura Staab – 331 votes
Dan Erickson – 322 votes
Kristi Letsche – 79 votes
Bill Sillau – 77 votes
Tonya Stodden – 31 votes
Scattering of write ins – 26 votes
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to approve the separation of employment for Neal Rogge, Conservation Seasonal Labor, effective October 5, 2023. Motion carried.
The supervisors provided committee reports and reviewed meeting schedules.
There being no further business, Chairman Mongan called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to adjourn the meeting at 10:19 a.m.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at www.cherokeecounty.iowa.gov.
Attest: Kaitlin Letsche, Auditor’s Assistant
Rick Mongan, Chairman
Published in the Marcus News on December 7, 2023